Rail joint



Nov. 12, 1935.. B G, BRA. 2,020,602

R'AIL JOINT Filed May 14, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l gme'nto't B. GBraiwe,

B. G. BRAINE RAIL JOINT Nov. 12, 1935.

Filed May 14, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The Rail Joint Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application May 14, 1931, Serial No. 537,462

2 Claims.

The invention relates to rail joints, and has particular reference to certain improvements in rail joints of the type in which a load sustaining filler bar is interposed between the rail and the splice bar.

An object of the invention is to provide a rail joint of the type mentioned which permits the use of a splice bar of relatively light weight and which, at the same time, is exceptionally strong and durable and aiiords a firm support for the rail ends.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rail joint of the type mentioned which is readily adjustable to compensate for wear between the filler bar and the rail and between the filler bar and the splice bar.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rail joint of the type mentioned which is especially adapted to be insulated and which as an insulated joint, possesses long life.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rail joint of the type mentioned having special utility in the splicing of headfree rails, whether the joint is or is not insulated.

With the foregoing and various other objects in view, which will become more fully apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel features of i construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the different views:

Figure l is a side elevation of a rail joint embodying the novel features of the invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on line 2-2 through the joint illustrated in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse section through the joint on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a continuous filler bar spanning the rail ends.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be. observed that a rail joint constructed in accordance with the invention includes essentially, in addition to the rails designated as R, R, a splice bar designated generally as B, and a cooperating load sustaining filler bar or bars C interposed between the splice bar and the rails.

The rails R, B may be either of the headfree type illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, characterized by the removal of the lower outer corners of their heads as indicated at it, or of the standard type illustrated in Fig. 4, and in either case the splice formed by the present joint structure may be insulated or non-insulated as desired.

In the event the joint is to be insulated, two filler bars C spaced apart at their inner ends are employed, as illustrated by way of example in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. n the other hand, in the event the joint is to be non-insulating, two filler bars may be employed as in the case of an insulated joint, or a single filler bar may be employed to bridge the rail ends. Moreover, Whether only a single filler bar is employed, or two filler bars are employed, the bar or bars may be of a length to terminate either at the ends of the splice bar or inwardly or outwardly with respect thereto.

In instances where an insulated joint is to be produced by the present joint structure, an end post ll of insulation is interposed between the rail ends, and preferably is formed to extend between the inner ends of the two filler bars employed in such instances, as illustrated in Fig. 2, although a separate piece of insulation may, if desired, be interposed between the ends of the filler bars.

When the rails R, R, are of the headfree type illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, and the joint is to be insulated, the filler bars C are rounded at their upper innercorners to take loading engagement with the rail head fillets as indicated at I2, and the bases of said bars preferably are formed to have fishing contact with the upper faces of the rail flanges as indicated at l3. Furthermore, clearance preferably is provided between the rail webs and the filler bars to permit said bars to be adjusted inwardly to compensate for any looseness of the joint which may occur as the result of wear between the rails and the filler bars. However, it will be noted that since the splice bar B has loading engagement through interposed insulation M with the heads of the filler bars, and base fishing cooperation through interposed insulation 5 with the upper faces of the rail flanges, the load is transmitted from the rail heads through the heads of the filler bars to the splice bar and through the latter to the rail flanges, wherefore the filler bars are capable of being formed below their heads in any suitable or desired manner for cooperation with the rails and the splice bar. And, obviously, this holds equally true in the case of non-insulated joints whether only a single filler bar is employed as shown in Figure to bridge the rail ends or whether two separate filler bars are employed as in the case of an insulated joint. On the other hand, when the rails are of the standard type illustrated in Fig. 4, the filler bar or bars, as the case may be, may be formed for loading engagement either with the head fillets of the rails as in the case of headfree rails, or for fishing contact with the undersides of the rail heads. Moreover, in any instance where the filler bar or bars has or have loading engagement with the rail bases, it is obvious that a considerable portion of the load is taken directly by said filler bar or bars.

Obviously, instead of the splice bar having loading or fishing engagement at its head with the head or heads of the filler bar or bars as the case may be, it may simply bear against the outer face or faces of the filler bar or bars to hold the latter in operative relation to the rails. In that event the filler bar or bars must sustain the load and must, therefore, have head loading or fishing cooperation not only with the rail head fillets or the undersides of the rail heads, but base loading or fishing cooperation either with the base fillets of the rails or the upper faces of the rail flanges. V

In both practicable embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the filler bar C is formed at its head with an outward extension it with which the head of the splice bar B is adapted for cooperation to receive part of the load transmitted from the rail heads to the filler bar. Moreover, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the splice: bar is of the well known continuous type having top and bottom flange portions overlying and underlying the rail flanges, respectively, which is a preferred but not an essential arrangement, as the splice bar may well be oi the toeless design illustrated in Fig. 4 or of any other desired type, especially in the event the filler bar bridges the rail ends and has both head and base loading engagement with head and base portions of the rails, as the filler bar under such conditions cone stitutes the main load sustaining element of the joint and the splice bar serves principally as a holding means for the filler bar.

In the case of an insulated joint, the head and base pieces of insulation, I4 and I5, respectively, interposed between the top or head portion of the splice bar and the filler bars, and between the base portion of the splice bar and the rail flanges, respectively are materially relieved by the filler bars of the requirement of sustaining loads imposed on the joint. Consequently the insulation is subjected to little or no cutting or wear and possesses long life.

Considering the rail ends as cantilevers, rep resenting the weakest portions thereof, it is manifest that the filler bar or bars not only afford reinforcements for the rail ends serving efiectively to hold them against excessive deflection under load, but permit the use of relatively light splice bars and the placing of the insulation in insulated joints where it possesses long life due tovbeing relieved of the shearing action noticeable in insulated joints in which the insulation is interposed directly between the rail' heads and the splicing structure.

Without further description it is thought that thefeatures and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope or the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. A rail joint comprising the rails, a filler bar spanning the rail ends having loading engagement at its bottom with the rail flanges, loading engagement at its upper inner corner with the head fillets of the rails, clearance from the under sides of the rail heads, and clearance upwardly from its bottom, throughout a major portion of its height, from the rail webs, said filler bar having a head and a web and a fillet at the junction of said head and web, and a splice bar having loading cooperation at its upper inner corner with the fillet of said filler bar, fishing cooperation at its base with the upper sides of the rail flanges, and clearance upwardly from its bottom, throughout a major portion'of its height, from the outer face of the filler bar.

2. A rail joint including, in combination with the rails, a filler bar having loading engagement at its bottom with the rail flanges, loading engagement at its upper inner corner with the head fillets of the rail, said filler bar having a head and a web and a fillet at the junction of said head and web, and a splice bar having loading, cooperation at its upper inner corner with the fillet of said filler bar, fishing cooperation at its base with the upper side of the rail flanges, and clearance upwardly above the rail flanges and from the outer side of the filler bar throughout a portion of its height, thereby pro- Viding a fulcruming cooperation between the splice bar and the. filler bar as the joint is tightened.

BANCROFT G. BRAINE. 

